St. Columba's Primary School
NEWSLETTER | TERM 4 | WEEK 2 | 17 OCTOBER 2024
“Lord, strengthen me, and surround me with your favour and kindness.
Thank you that during times of difficulty and distress, you will uplift me and sustain me.
Thank you for being my light and salvation. Amen”
Dear Parents and Carers,
This term our Year 3 students will celebrate the Sacrament of First Reconciliation on Saturday, 9 November at St Columba’s Church. I would ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the lead up to this special day.
A reminder that next Monday is a pupil free day and students do not attend school on this day.
We wish our students involved in the Interschool Spelling Bee all the best with their competition at Aquinas tomorrow.
The School Advisory Council Annual Community Meeting will be held on Monday, 11 November at
6:00pm in the school undercover area. There will be three positions open with two current members re-nominating. Please see the attached nomination form if you are interested in nominating.
There will be a P&F meeting next Tuesday, 22 October in the staffroom. All are welcome to attend.
The P&F AGM will be held on Monday, 11 November at 6.00pm. All positions are declared open and those who have nominated for positions to the Executive are elected by vote if more than one nomination. Please see the attached nomination form if you are interested in nominating.
Our Year 5 students will participate in speeches and elections for 2025 on Monday, 18 November, in preparation for the Year 6 student leadership positions. There will be a change in the process from this year. Students from Year 5 will prepare speeches for a leadership role, and not a position, within Year 6 in 2025. The students from Year 4-6 will vote for students for a leadership role and not a position.
The staff will select leadership positions from the students voted to the leadership roles by the Year 4-6 students. Students will then be notified the following week of their leadership position and presented with their badges at the Thanksgiving Mass in Week 9.
A reminder, students will finish this term on Friday, 6 December. Students will start school in 2025 on Wednesday, 5 February.
God bless and keep safe.
Allen McMahon
Principal
Important Dates
Friday 18 October
- Interschool Spelling Bee
- School Disco
Monday 21 October
- Pupil Free Day **NEW DATE**
Tuesday 22 October
- P&F Meeting - 7pm
Wednesday 23 October
- Kindy Grandparents Day
Friday 25 October
- Grandparents Day PP - Y6
- World Teachers Day
Tuesday 29 October
- CAPSS Athletics Carnival - Langford Sporting Complex
School Disco 2024
The P&F are proud to present this year’s school disco, 'Enchanted Forest', taking place tomorrow.
This year, we have split the disco into 3 sessions.
Session 1 Kindy and Pre-Primary: 4:45-5:30pm (1 parent/carer must attend to supervise their child)
Session 2 Years 1-3: 5:45-6:45pm (no parents/carer's inside the disco area, children are required to be signed in on arrival and are unable to leave until parents sign out at the end)
Session 3 Years 4-6: 7:00-8:30pm (no parents/carer's inside the disco area, children are required to be signed in on arrival and are unable to leave until parents sign out at the end).
There is no cost for this event.
There will be a food truck available on the night to purchase light refreshments and ice creams.
Please note, this is strictly a no alcohol event.
A reminder that from Year 1 upwards parents are NOT allowed to go into the disco area.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your P&F rep if you have any questions.
Grandparents Day Morning Tea – Friday, 25 October 2024
All Grandparents are invited to our Grandparents Day, held on Friday, 25 October (Term 4, Week 3).
A Grandparents Day Mass for Years 3-6 students and grandparents will be held in the Church from 9:00am. Students will be able to sit with their grandparents at the Mass.
A Morning Tea for grandparents only will be provided in Kalyara Mia from 10:00am, supplied by the P&F.
Grandparents are encouraged to enjoy some morning tea and then spend time with their grandchildren in the classrooms (10:00-10:50am) and at recess time (10:50-11:10am).
A Grandparents Day Liturgy for PP - Y2 students and grandparents will be held in the Church from 11:15am. Students will be able to sit with their grandparents at the Liturgy.
Please note the following:
· Grandparents can walk over to the Church for Mass/Liturgy with their grandchildren.
· The Kiss and Drive will be closed on Friday, 25 October (during the morning only) to allow for access to the Church.
We are excited to be able to offer this community event for our grandparents.
World Teacher’s Day 2024
Next Friday, 25 October, we will celebrate World Teacher’s Day. We acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff at St Columba’s and thank them for their commitment to our school.
Welcome Susan Manfredi - Acting Assistant Principal
We warmly welcome Susan Manfredi to St Columba's. Susan will be Acting Assistant Principal for Term 4 while Jesse Yock is away on long service leave.
CEWA Chess Competition
On Monday, three of our Chess champions competed in the first round of the CEWA Primary School Inter-School Tournament. The games were fast paced, tense and lots of fun! The children demonstrated excellent sportsmanship by encouraging the other players and accepting losses as a learning opportunity. They will compete in two more rounds on Monday, 4 November and Monday, 25 November. Well done, Champs!
P&F funded Kidz N Sport - Commencing Week 2
- Tuesday Lunchtime: Years 1-3
- Wednesday Lunchtime: Years 4-6
- Location: Bottom School Oval
- Duration (number of weeks): Eight
- Cost: P7F Funded Initiative
- Method to register / join: No action required. Students choice to participate on the day
Technology Club - Commencing Week 2
Extra-curricular technology club kindly arranged by our P&F:
- Year groups: Year 4 - Year 6
- Location: School Library
- Days and times: Monday's after school
- Start date: Monday 14 October (except 21 Oct pupil-free day)
- Duration (number of weeks): Seven
- End date: Monday 2 December
- Cost: Full cost to parents $175.00
- Method to register / join: Join via the link below
Soccer Club - Commencing Week 2
Extra-curricular soccer club kindly arranged by our P&F:
- Provider / Organisation: Pro Football Training
- Year groups: Year 1 to Year 6
- Location: Weeks 2 - 3: on the tennis courts and Weeks 4 - 9: on the oval
- Days and times: Wednesday and Friday Mornings at 7:30am
- Start date: Wednesday 16 October and Friday 18 October
- Duration (number of weeks): Eight
- End date: Wednesday 4 December and Friday 6 December
- Cost: Full cost to parents $149.00
- Method to register / join: Join via the link below
Bricks 4 Kidz - Commencing Week 2
Bricks 4 Kidz has been running after school from our library for a number of years:
- Provider / Organisation: Bricks 4 Kidz
- Contact person from provider: Rachel Koo / 0415 829 511 / rachel.koo@bricks4kidz.au
- Year groups: Various classes, starting from 5 years and up
- Location: St Columba's Library
- Days and times: Fridays after school
- Start date: Friday 18 October
- Duration (number of weeks): 8 weeks
- End date: Friday 6 December
- Cost: See further information in link below
- Method to register / join: Join via link below
Message from Hayley | P&F President
Hi Everyone,
It is that time of year again. The St Columba's whole school Tea Towel has been a tradition of the schools for years, and this year is no different. Over the last few weeks, your children have been busy drawing themselves and their teachers ready to be printed on a Tea Towel - what a cute memory (and gift).
If you would like to purchase, please click on the above link.
Prices are as follows:
1 x Tea Towel $15 each
3+ Tea Towels $14 each
This week, the Kidz n Sports lunchtime programme commenced. It is our pleasure as a P&F to be able to offer these options for your children. From what I have seen and heard, they are having a great time.
Next Tuesday is the last P&F meeting for the year. If you have anything you would like us to discuss, any feedback you would like to provide, or anything you would like to see for 2025, please reach out to myself or your class rep.
I hope the children have a fabulous time at the P&F Disco this Friday. The parents organising have put a MASSIVE amount of work into it. Thank you also to those parents volunteering on the night.
Hayley Mitchell
P&F President
Scholastic Books - Issue 7 - Due Wednesday, 23 October
ISSUE 7 has been sent home today. Book orders are due on Wednesday, 23 October.
Did you know that every purchase you make on Book Club earns our school 15% of the order value in Scholastic Rewards? We use these to purchase more books and educational resources for the school. It all helps!
Cash payments are no longer accepted. Payments can be made by credit card - Visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP or download the LOOP app. Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of your school's order. You do not need to complete the order form.
School Term Dates for 2024
Term 4: Monday 7 October - Friday 6 December
Pupil Free Days for 2024
Term 4: Monday 21 October
Sacrament Dates for 2024
Reconciliation: Saturday, 9 November at 10am